A Journey... Panta ta ethne
Always a beginner: To teach and be taught
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Refreshed and Renewed
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Getting a Good Start to a New Year
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
God Answers Prayers
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Christmas in Thailand, Year 5
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
I Have a Dream
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Latest and Greatest News from Thailand!
Mission Statement: To share the love of Christ with the people of Thailand.
Vision Statement: To enrich the lives of Thai children, youth, and young adults with English language skills to improve their way of life, increase their chances at better jobs in the future, and introduce them to the love of Christ through relationship, teaching, and acts of service.
Qualifications:
For the last three years I’ve taken Thai
language classes through Rak Thai Language School in Bangkok. This has enabled
me to pass the Thai Competency Test, where I received a certificate for
Competency in Thai Language. I also have a certification in Teaching English as
a Second Language. These qualifications will allow me to be a viable and
trusted teacher.
The Problem:
In Thailand, just like the United States, COVID-19 has caused frequent lockdowns and school closures. Unfortunately, I’m having to explore other outlets for helping and have recently been re-evaluating my long-term plans for serving here. These lockdowns and shutdowns have closed most volunteer teaching outlets for me. When we’re not in lockdown, I serve at a small English Center connected to Our Home Chapel, a church I was serving under before they cancelled its English teaching ministry due to COVID-19 and lack of students. At the English Center I help my ministry partner, Lena Lehualani (a Cross Cultural Worker from Hawaii), in her classes with Thai translations. Currently there are not enough students for me to have my own class as participation has decreased everywhere. I also serve with a second English Center for once a month English testing and special events. With the issue of COVID-19, I started to re-vision my goal and dream for serving in Thailand.
Vision:
While living in Ranong,
Thailand, the vision of a long-term ministry was placed in me. After relocating
to Bangkok and finishing my Thai studies, the pandemic hit. This had me
re-evaluating how I could better serve the people of Thailand, and that
vision was prompted to the forefront of my mind once again.
This vision starts small, teaching from my home, ideally a larger space to live
in, where I can also welcome children, youth and young adults to study English
for free. I will call this ministry and center the Love English Learning Center
because every lesson and activity will be based on God's love for all.
I would be able to teach English by:
- Incorporating activities
and games
- Practicing English
language skills through cooking, cleaning, community outings, serving
others in the community, learning teamwork, and how to make
presentations to others
- And after building
trusting relationships with families or individuals, incorporating Bible
stories and songs into the lessons
When the
ministry grows, I would be able to invite other trusted teachers to join me. As
it grows further, I would hope to build partnerships with Thai partners to
create a foundation. A foundation would open doors for inviting others to come
and serve under a visa.
I have a heart to teach the Thai people. I have a heart to love the Thai
people. I have a heart to serve the Thai people. I feel a calling to share the
love of Christ through teaching English to the Thai people, which will not only
give them hope for a better future for jobs, but hope in Christ as well.
Seeing the joy on students' faces during lessons and special activities is the biggest blessing one could ask for. |
What is needed?
Prayer
Partners. Scripture tells us the harvest is great and the workers are few.
My heart’s desire is to work with God in His Thailand fields. In this time of
uncertainty and the chaos and instability COVID-19 has our world in, I would
love to offer and be that consistent, stable presence so many of the children
need. I believe with all my heart that Christ has placed me here in Thailand
for such a time as this. Through prayer and seeking God’s direction, I have
been reassured that my time here is not yet finished. It is God that placed a
vision and dream in my heart, and I have faith that He will help me carry that
out. Please join me in prayer for my ministry and outreach here in Thailand.
Financial support partners. A huge part of this ministry is the backing of
faithful supporters. I can see the end of my money looming and I still sense I
am called to serve the people of Thailand. By July, all previous support
and funding raised will have been used up and I need to find new supporters in
order to stay and serve in Thailand. I also need to increase my monthly budget
to meet the vision for ministry growth. This includes:
- increase in housing cost
in order to find a space large enough where I can both teach and live
- Teaching supplies such as
paper, notebooks, dry erase markers, pencils, and other small classroom
necessities
- Classroom supplies such
as tables/chairs or desks, whiteboards, printer, etc
- Teaching curriculum
teacher/student/workbook books and audio/DVD. (A list of these things can
be provided to those interested in purchasing and shipping directly to me)
To fulfill
the vision of sharing Christ’s love with the Thai people, the Love English
Learning Center would have a need of $2,250 per month. For startup, the Love
English Learning Center would need about $2,500-$3,500 up front in order to
begin renting a new place (move in cost is usually first and last months’
payments) as well as buy necessary teaching supplies and curriculum. It is my
goal to find housing that is already furnished to avoid having to buy furniture
necessities such as a bed and kitchen appliances.
Conclusion:
This vision for ministry and service allows me to:
- build deeper relationships within a Thai community
- offer English lessons to different levels and age groups throughout the week and not be limited in service, hours of operation, travel time, or staff to student ratio
- serve more freely and more often than I am able to serve through my current English Center volunteering.
This is my heart: To serve daily by loving others well and sharing the love of Christ through service and relationships.
Please prayerfully consider financially supporting me on this journey through a monthly donation or a one-time gift. You can CLICK HERE to choose a donation option that fits you best or use the following link: https://www.modernday.org/field-workers/clmoye77/
Thank you in advance for your prayers and financial support!
§ ULC English Center- assisting teachers in classes and special events
§ Bangkok Community Help Group- service projects for needy communities
§ Fun with English Center- English testing and special events
§ RTL School- assisting teachers with computer needs, translations, and Thai conversation practice with beginners
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Big God, Big Dreams
I can't believe we're already into the 3rd month of a new year! Time just keeps flying by! And yet, it seems that the majority of us are still waiting for this pandemic of Covid to lessen and go away. I feel it very much. Covid has been getting worse here in Thailand. But I'm happy to see America getting the vaccine and hope that the vaccine will be available here soon. I'm praying for an end to this terrible illness that has swept through the whole world over.
So what have I been up to during this time? Well, I've been serving with 2 different English Centers as well as serving with a Community Help group. But as activities and numbers have been limited due to Covid, I've spent some time re-evaluating my plans for ministry here. And that's where I was reminded of a big dream that my big God gave me. It is my hope and prayer that I can raise enough support to continue ministering to the children, youth, and adults of Thailand. An
update is going out as I type this brief blog. If you're interested in the update and want me to email it to you, please send me your email address. I will write a longer post here about it at a later time.
For now, enjoy some pictures and videos from English teaching and camp.